One win can change things: Ganguly

Given his new role in the Kolkata Knight Riders side this year, it wasn’t inappropriate that Sourav Ganguly was occupying a chair in a corner of the stage on Tuesday evening when seven players of the team made a surprise appearance before the media and fans at a multiplex in a busy and glitzy mall which has a casino as its prime attraction.

Coaches John Buchanan and Matthew Mott were also there and it looked apt again when most of the questions were directed to Buchanan and captain Brendon McCullum. Last year’s captain cut a forlorn figure sitting quietly next to Ishant Sharma. In the end, Ganguly was asked whether he would have done things any differently had he been the captain and whether he was more comfortable batting at No 3. He avoided both. He spoke to HT after that and following are the excerpts:

In terms of performance, things have been similar with this team in the two years of IPL so far. Would you agree?

We didn’t really have a team last year with most of the key foreign players being available for only a few matches. This year we have most of them for more number of matches as compared to last year. Yes, we are yet to win matches but these are early days in the competition still. One win can change things.

Two to win from two balls against the Royals, you at the wicket and still not pulling it off. Sure it hurts…

The feeling of disappointment is still there. It’s true that’s how it goes in cricket sometimes, but losing that game after getting so close is a very bad feeling. At the same time, we must put that behind and look ahead.

There are whispers that all’s not well in the team. How true is it?

There will be such talks if a team doesn’t do well. It’s nothing new for us. To make sure that such discussions don’t take place, we have to do well.